Sharing Art

Will people see our talents or should we constantly sell our wares and say look? Look at what I’ve done or what I can do! I think that people tend to take notice of those subtle artists who have other outlets and mostly other motives for creating art in its varied forms.

Some artists create because they have something to say. William Faulkner said, “If a story is in you, it hasto come out.” They write, paint or sketch because there is that inner drive that will not let them rest until it is done. Something needs to be born and if it resonates with others, then great. If not, that is okay too, because it was something that was going to happen anyway.

It is good thing if writers or those other creators of art have other sources of revenue to remain lucrative. Then art can unfold for arts’ sake and not for profit alone. There is less desperation and more true expression.

Art often acts as a healing agent. It can help align the artist’s thinking or it might unearth hidden and long forgotten moments of the past. They may resurface as a tale is being told. Sometimes, we are so busy putting one foot in front of the other and we don’t always get the opportunity to stop, reflect and even take note of what has occurred or been learned. We might be more focused on getting away from the discomfort as we evolve and move to the next level.

There is a Country and Western song called Can’t You See, written and performed by The Marshall Tucker Band. This guy had been hurt by a woman and he said that he would run until the rails of the train track ran out. Life is like that. We are constantly on the move like a river and we may not always realize how many stories or images have been spun until there is time to pause and put it down in some tangible form.

When the running slows down to a halt, then the memories flow. We remember, “Oh yeah. I did go through that.” While we are involved in the creative process, some of those snippets of the past start coming back to life and they show up at the most surprising times. William Faulkner also wrote, “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.”

Many writers write to heal themselves of some cathartic need. If their readers happen to gain some new insight or energy from the piece, that is absolutely great. Dr. Maya Angelou said, “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside of you.” It is not about the showcasing or grandstanding; it is about sharing what has been revealed while traveling through life and hopefully a few other souls will be touched along the way.